Spring Break for Fox Valley students is just around
the corner, and we’re ready for a little shake-up in our routine and perhaps a little adventuring! We have so many ideas to share with you if you want to stick close to home, stay on a budget, or venture away from home!
Always Learning: Nearby Museums to Explore
Whether you are looking for a children’s museum in Wisconsin, or science, art, or history museums, we have so many great options across the state. Some of our favorites include Discovery World and the Milwaukee Art Museum.
- The Building for Kids, Appleton
- Atlas Science Center, Appleton
- Weis Earth Science Museum and Barlow Planetarium, Menasha
- History Museum at the Castle, Appleton
- Trout Museum of Art, Appleton
- Oshkosh Public Museum, Oshkosh
- EAA AirVenture Museum, Oshkosh
- Paine Art Center & Gardens, Oshkosh
- Military Veterans Museum, Oshkosh
- The Automobile Gallery, Green Bay
- Packer’s Hall of Fame, Green Bay
- National Railroad Museum, Green Bay
- Neville Public Museum, Green Bay
- Green Bay Children’s Museum, Green Bay
- Farm Discovery Center, Manitowoc
Worth the Drive Children’s Museums
- Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac
- Madison Children’s Museum, Madison
- Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Milwaukee
- Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, Sheboygan
- Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum, Stevens Point
Burn off Energy – Run Around, Jump, Climb & Play
- Luv 2 Play, Appleton – Enjoy three stories of climbing, crawling, sliding, and zipping! Cafe and grill available and fun games available to play!
- Badger Sports Park, Appleton – Escape room, VR games, laser tag, mini bowling, arcade games, and more!
- Funset Boulevard, Appleton – Enjoy Laser tag, playground, train, carousel, bumper cars, games, and more!
- Urban Air, Appleton – Indoor go-karts, zipline, and obstacle course are just a few things that make this spot unique!
- Altitude Trampoline Park, Appleton
- Extreme Air, Appleton
- Monkey Joe’s, Appleton
- Chuck E Cheese, Green Bay
- Tri-County Gymnastics & Cheer, Green Bay – Open gyms times available.
- Oshkosh Gymnastics & Cheer, Oshkosh – Open gym times available.
- Downtown Appleton YMCA Treehouse (Family Fun Center Play Area), Appleton
- The Kroc Center, Green Bay – Day passes available.
- Yoga for Kids – Check out Sunny Side Up Yoga.
Go Swimming
We have so many great indoor pool options in the Fox Cities, both at hotels and park and rec options. There are water slides, splash pads, lap swimming, diving, hot tubs and whirlpools, saunas, and more!
Need a winter escape? Head to the waterpark capital of the world, Wisconsin Dells for a fun weekend retreat!
Go Bowling
Bowling is a fun indoor activity to forget about how cold it is outside! Both Super Bowl in Appleton and Sabre Lanes in Menasha are now owned by Bowlero and offer special loyalty programs, events, and promotions, and lots of lanes for bowling.
The 10th Frame in Appleton is locally owned and operated and has good old-fashioned bowling, including keeping score by hand!
Electric City Lanes in Kaukauna has a cozy, intimate bowling experience with fluorescent lights and a fireplace. The full-service restaurant has a casual dining menu and a wide selection of beer, wine, and spirits.
Rolling Thunder Lanes has open bowling and an arcade (and wings!)
Play at a New Park Each Day!
Head out to one of these Perfect for Spring Parks in and around Appleton.
There are some fantastic Oshkosh Parks with the Rubber Ground also!
BONUS! Spring park adventurer pro tip: Bathrooms are open at Fritsch and Fritse Parks in Fox Crossings/Menasha.
Put That State Parks Pass to Use!
- High Cliff State Park is so close to home and filled with opportunities to explore. There are family-friendly trails, a new accessible playground with a rubber surface, and unbeatable views.
- Heritage Hill State Park offers education, exploration, and natural spaces in one trip!
- There are 14 other State Parks that are within a two-hour drive from Appleton!
- More State Parks ideas: Ten Must-Do Wisconsin State Park Adventures for Your Family in 2023!
- FREE program for all State Parks! The Wisconsin State Parks and Department of Natural Resources work together to bring Wisconsin families the Wisconsin Explorers Program with customized books and activities for all age groups.
Hit a Trail
There is no shortage of great places to take a walk, hike, or bike ride in the Fox Valley and nearby.
- Find 18 Family-Friendly Trails in the Fox Valley. We’ve got all the details from trail type and length, whether you’ll be able to find a bathroom or bring your dog, and where you can find coffee and ice cream on your way home.
- Here are our 5 Favorite Trails in Oshkosh!
- There are 13 Great Trails in Green Bay waiting for your family’s feet!
- Special Mention: 11 Worth the Drive Hiking Trails About One Hour from Appleton.
Learn and Play at a Nature Center
There are 12 Nature Centers for Families About an Hour From Appleton and you can plan a day trip with our ideas for nearby things to do and spots to get coffee and ice cream! Here are some of our favorites:
- Bubolz Nature Center, Appleton
- Heckrodt Wetland Reserve, Menasha – Their natural treehouse play area, The World Beneath Your Feet, is a must-visit spot for area kids!
- 1000 Islands Environmental Center, Kaukauna
- Mosquito Hill Nature Center, New London
- Navarino Nature Center, Shiocton
- Ledgeview Nature Center, Chilton
- Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Green Bay – We LOVE feeding the ducks here!
- BONUS: Tips for a deeper experience Engaging with Nature and check out the emerging creatures with a Bug Hunt and Activities.
Plan a Day Out for Animal Lovers
- MToxins, Oshkosh – Over 50 rare reptiles and amphibians from around the world!
- Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Green Bay – FREE! A walk through the woods with animals native to Wisconsin to visit along the way, including wolves, coyotes, deer, and ducks that love to be fed.
- NEW Zoo, Suamico – It is fun to explore here in spring weather when animals are active!
- Shalom Wildlife Zoo, West Bend – Open on Saturdays and Sundays through April 14, 2023, you can opt for a fun drive-through experience.
- Milwaukee Zoo, Milwaukee – Visit the winter-loving animals and stroll through warm indoor exhibits!
- Pawffee Shop Cat Cafe, Appleton – Enjoy a cup of coffee and cat snuggles!
- Short on time? Try a pet store! PetSmart, Just Pets, and Petco are all fun options in Appleton.
Hungry? Eats and Treats
- Find a spot where Kids Eat FREE (or cheap)!
- The Sweet Lair in Menssha has fun board games and sweets!
- We’ve got 60+ Places for Ice Cream.
- Here are our favorite Fox Valley Coffee Shops with Play Areas for Kids!
- Here’s where to find our very favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies in the Fox Valley.
- And finally, family-friendly Local Pizza Night Faves!
Venture a Little Farther from Home: Day Trips
There are so many unique places to explore just an hour or two from Appleton (we thought of 15!). We love to explore and find fun things for your family to do when you’re looking to take a little day trip; here are some of our favorites!
Oshkosh
Just a short drive away, Oshkosh has so many places to explore. There are fun murals, we love to visit the Paine Art Center and Gardens, and there are great playgrounds with rubber surfaces to burn energy and play. Find ideas for year-round adventures in Oshkosh and much more on our sister site, Go Oshkosh Kids!
New London
Close to the Fox Valley and full of art and natural areas to explore, New London is a great close-to-home destination for families. Visit Mosquito Hill, take a walk along the river, go on a mural hunt, and grab an ice cream cone before your short drive home. This is a great place to spend a winter day, also!
Waupaca / Little Hope
Little Hope is your spot if you’re looking for an idyllic day of creek stomping, ice cream cones, and picture-perfect picnic backdrops. There are lots of things to do nearby, including Hartman Creek State Park, mini-golfing at Tom Thumb, waterfront dining at Clearwater Harbor Waterfront Restaurant & Bar, nearby Animal Haven Farm Zoo in Weyauwega. Read more details about a visit to the Waupaca area.
Wausau
Another city not far from Appleton with massive day trip potential. There are incredible playgrounds, an adventure park with 18 holes of mini-golf, museums, botanical gardens, and more. You can easily plan a day and head home with just a short drive or a planned weekend in Wausau with kids! Here are our suggestions for a super fun family day!
Stevens Point
About an hour from Appleton, this often-overlooked destination awaits with murals, a fantastic sculpture park, miles of trails, a universal playground, and the best ice cream! Read more of our suggestions for a fun day with kids in Stevens Point.
Port Washington
Slow down for a day in Port Washington, exploring a historic lighthouse and fantastic playground. Top it off with a trip to the chocolate shop, and you’ve got a peaceful and delicious day drip. Read more about exploring Port Washington with your family.
Manitowoc
Visit a lighthouse, playground, zoo, murals, Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center, shipwreck, or the beach. There’s something for everyone on a trip to Manitowoc, including a trip to Cedar Crest’s ice cream parlor! Here are some ideas for how to spend your day.
Milwaukee
There’s so much to do in Milwaukee, you could easily extend this into a multiple-day stay, but it isn’t so far that you cannot explore for just a day. We’ve shared some of our favorite Family-Friendly Things to Do in Milwaukee.
Madison
We’ve created a guide to Visiting the Capital City with Children featuring places to explore, eat, and play.
